Chapter 7: Concealing oneself
It was not long before Malina, Young, Chabela, and Rascal had reached the far end of the jungles. Now they came across a vine and moss filled gorge surrounded by sharp spikes of stone jutting out from every corner and direction. It looked as if whoever made those spikes did not want any visitors. Young had barely missing poking his eye out with a stone.
"So, how exactly are you planning to stop this heat wave?" Young asked Malina. "I'm going to talk to my sister," Malina said with a smile. "That's it?" Young asked, confused. "My whole sailor business is riding on you just talking to your sister?" "Yes," Malina replied. "But aren't you afraid of her?" Young asked. "No. Why would I be?" Malina said. "I was just literally thinking the same thing," Rascal said without noticing that he was walking straight into a spike of stone. "I bet Alex's the nicest, gentlest, warmest person ever." He then noticed that his kerchief was punctured through the pike. "Oh, look at that," he said, smiling. "My hanky's been impaled."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mometns later, The friends had come across a steep mountain hill. It was a dead end. "It's too steep," Young said. "And I've only got one rope and a pickaxe, and you don't know how to climb mountains." "Says who?" Malina shouted. Young looked up and was surprised to fin Malina attempting to climb the mountain herself! "What are you doing?" Young asked. "I'm going…to see…my sister," Malina panted as she unsuccessfully tried to endure the mountain. "I wouldn't put my foot there!" Young exclaimed. "I'm trying!" Malina said. "Stop distracting me!" "How do you even know if Alex wants to see you?" Young asked. "Well, I'm just blocking you out, so I'm trying to focus here!" Malina exclaimed. "Just sayin', most people who disappear into the mountains want to be alone." "No one wants to be alone! Except maybe you!" Malina said. "I'm not alone, I've got friends," Young said sarcastically. "Oh, right! Your friends! The love experts!" Malina shouted out. "Yes! The love experts!" Young scoffed.
Malina was breathing heavily. "Please tell me I'm almost there," she pleaded. But, to Young, it seemed as if Malina had only reached a few inches. "Gosh, does the air seem thinner around here?" Malina asked herself. "Hang on," Young said. "Guys," Rascal exclaimed from afar, "not sure if this is going to solve the problem, but I found a staircase that leads exactly where you want to go." "Haha yes!" Malina said, relieved while letting go of the hold. "Catch!" she shouted as Young caught her. "Wow, that was like some crazy trust exercise, huh?"
As they headed up the staircase, they came across a most magnificent palace of fiery red crystal, with torches of flames atop the towers. Lava was bubbling from cauldrons of pure gray stone. Malina and Young were awestruck. "Talk about cut, clear, and clarity," Young muttered. "I think I'm gonna cry." "Go ahead," Malina whispered. "I won't bother." She pushed open the door and prepared to step inside. "Young, I think you should wait out here," Malina told him. "'Cause the last time I introduced her to a guy, she burned everything." She walked right inside the palace.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Malina stepped inside the crystal palace. It was an amazing sight; the red crystal that shone from the light of the sun gave off a warm, orange glow. As Malina looked all around her, the silence became deafening. "Alex?" Malina called out. "It's me, Malina."
"Malina?" Malina turned around and saw her sister coming out from a room upstairs. Malina was awestruck by Alex's new appearance. "Whoa," she said. "Alex, you look…different. And I mean it in a good way! A good way! And this place, it's just…amazing." "Thanks," Alex said. "I never knew what I was capable of." "Listen, Alex," Malina said. "I'm sorry about all this. If I hadn't known…" "No, it's okay," Alex said. "You don't have to apologize. But I think you should probably leave. Right now." "Now?" Malina asked. "But I just got here." "No, Malina. You belong in San Theodoros," Alex said. "And I belong here. Where I can be who I am without hurting anybody." "Actually," Malina said, "about that…" "Sixty!" a voice yelled out. "Wait, what was that?" Alex asked.
Suddenly, Rascal came running in, excited. "Hi!" Rascal called out. "I'm Rascal and I like warm hugs!" That was when Rascal noticed Alex on the staircase and felt rather bashful. "You created me," Rascal told her. "Remember?" "And you were brought to life?" Alex asked in astonishment. "I think so," "See, Alex?" Malina said, patting Rascal's head. "He's just like the one we found as kids. We can be together like this all over again." Alex wanted nothing more than that to become a reality. But the raven-black streak on Malina's hair was yet another haunting reminder of that horrifying day many years ago, when she struck Malina with her powers. Alex turned away and said, "No, I can't. Goodbye, Malina." She turned and walked away.
"Alex, you don't have to hide from me anymore! I'm not afraid!" Malina said, heading up the staircase behind her sister. "Please don't shut me out again!" Malina climbed all the way up the stairs to reason with Alex. Now that the secret was out, Malina thought she and Alex could still be happy again for the first time in forever. But for Alex, it wasn't easy for her. Now the people of San Theodoros would never accept her for who she really was. She was still afraid to hurt anybody else. But there was still something that Alex didn't know. "Alex," Malina said. "San Theodoros is in deep, deep, deep, deep…heat."
"What?" Alex asked, shocked. "You kind of set off an eternal summer everywhere," Malina said. "Everywhere?" Alex asked. "It's all right, you can just fix it," Malina said. "No, I can't," Alex said. "I…I don't know how!" "Sure, you will!" Malina exclaimed. "I know you can!" It was hard for Alex. Hearing that San Theodoros was trapped in heat was too much for Alex. Maybe she was the monster that everyone had feared. She began to feel her emotions slipping out of control and flames rising. But Malina had persisted. "Please! Everything will be all right!" Malina kept saying. Alex was torn by her conflicting emotions. She could not bear to face the truth. Angered and upset, Alex shouted, "I CAN'T!"
As soon as she had said that, her bottled-up emotions soon burst out of her. A wave of fiery magic was released from her body…and it struck Malina right in the chest! Malina fell back. As Alex turned around, she gaped at Malina struggling to get up. Young and Rascal all came to Malina's rescue. "Are you okay?" Young asked, helping Malina to her feet. "I'm okay," Malina said. "I'm fine." "Who is this?" Alex said, noticing Young. "You know what, never mind. Malina, you have to leave now." "No, I won't!" Malina said. "I warned you to stay away!" Alex said. ""But I'm not going to leave without you!" Malina pressured on. "I know we can work this out!" "How?" Alex asked. "What power do you have to stop this summer? To stop me?" "I don't know," Malina said. "But I'm not leaving you!" "Yes," Alex said, backing away from the friends. "You are." She waved her hands, and magic filled the air. Suddenly, a giant stone monster, bound together by hot lava, rose from the ground. It grew and grew, until it towered over Malina and her friends.
Rascal could hardly contain his excitement. "You made me a little brother!" he exclaimed, eyeing the stone giant. He turned to the huge, lumbering creature. "I'm going to call you Rocky!"